Neeraj Chopra back with a bang, qualify for Tokyo Olympics
January 29, 2020 Athletics
- India’s Neeraj Chopra marked a memorable comeback to competitive javelin throw, registering a best throw of 87.86m – the second best throw of his career– to win the ACNW League Meeting in Potchefstroom, South Africa on Tuesday evening.
- With the throw, the reigning Commonwealth and Asian Games Champion became the first Indian javelin thrower to qualify for the Olympics in Tokyo, starting in July, as confirmed by the Athletics Federation of India. The Olympic Qualifying standard was set by World Athletics at 85m.
- This was the first competitive meet for Chopra, who missed out the entire 2019 season due to a surgery on his throwing arm in May and subsequent rehabilitation, since September 2018. After undergoing an elbow arthroscopy surgery on May 2, 2019, Chopra underwent rehabilitation at National Institute of Sport, Patiala and the Inspire Institute of Sport, Vijayanagar, before shifting base to Potchefstroom, South Africa to train under coach Klaus Bartonietz in November last year.
